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The Anatomy of Ghosts

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The Anatomy of Ghosts

By: Andrew Taylor
Narrated by: John Telfer
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About this listen

1786, Jerusalem College, Cambridge. The ghost of Sylvia Whichcote is rumoured to be haunting Jerusalem, since disturbed fellow-commoner, Frank Oldershaw, claims to have seen the dead woman prowling the grounds.

Desperate to salvage her son’s reputation, Lady Anne Oldershaw employs John Holdsworth, author of The Anatomy of Ghosts a stinging account of why ghosts are mere delusion to investigate. But his arrival in Cambridge disrupts an uneasy status quo as he glimpses a world of privilege and abuse.

And when Holdsworth finds himself haunted not only by the ghost of his dead wife, Maria, but also Elinor, the very-much-alive Master’s wife his fate is sealed.

©2010 Lydmouth Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Amateur Sleuths Fantasy Fiction Genre Fiction Ghosts Gothic Historical Horror Literary Fiction Mystery Psychological Haunted Scary Detective Marriage

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A highly entertaining and atmospheric whodunit not without humour. This book for me had it all, scandal, betrayal, murder, a love story beautifully crafted giving an insight into the privelleged lifestyles of rich young men set against the poverty of the lower classes. This was all brought together by the brilliant narration of John Telfer. You will not be disappointed as the plot unravels. One of the best books I have listened to in a long time.

Ghosts are a mere delusion?

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I like Andrew Taylor's historical books & this is well up with his best. He creates interesting characters, unusual settings & weaves in a wealth of historical detail without losing the pace of the story. Highly recommended.

Ghosts but don't expect a spooky story

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I found this novel interesting but flawed. The prose is better than average, and I'm sure the depiction of the historical era and events is based on some research, but the plot was a bit silly. I just couldn't believe the main plot; it seemed far too over the top. I'm sure there is some grounding in an historical event, but in the book, it seemed too much. I also got a bit irriated by the obsession with the 'carnal act' that the main characters had, it was unsublte and made me laugh at times, which was, I suspect, not the author's intention.
The main character is interesting, and his story line was the only thing of real depth and intelligence. I listened till the end, but will immediately delete the book from my ipod, rather than keep it to listen again at some point. so, in my opinion, worth a listen, if you are looking for a different type of detective novel, but with a silly plot that spoils a good idea. I read a lot of detective fiction, and the standard varies hugely, this is better than average, but yet again, women (some of them very young indeed, in fact not adults at all!) get some very bad treatment in this book. If Audible were to start an age suitability rating scheme, I would expect this book to have a 14+ rating, at the very least. If there was less gratuitous description and more subltly, then it would have been better. If you want a modern take on the Jane Austen era then the zombie version of Pride and Perjudice is far better!

Bit of a pot boiler.

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I have read or listened to a couple of other Andrew Taylor novels. The characters here are believable and the historical setting is interesting.
I enjoyed the story but felt that it came to a rather hasty conclusion.
The narration is excellent.

Enjoyable, but not his best

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I'm a great fan of Andrew Taylor and although his writing varies from book to book i've never been disappointed and this book proves no exception. Taylor is exceptional at bringing to life the period he is is writing about whether it be 1950's/60's or as in this case the late 18th Century. The story is further enhanced by the excellent narration of John Telfer. I wouldn't hesitate to recomend this book, in fact i'm going to buy it in paperback for my sisters birthday.

Good book, brilliantly read.

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I have not ventured into any of Andrew Taylor’s books before, but oh my goodness what an excellent author. Beautifully written, beautifully read and thoroughly absorbing. I now have an entire shelf of books awaiting my attention.

A wonderful surprise

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Struggled to finish but interesting characters. I think it would be better in book form.

Read it instead.

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The story is ok, but the writing style often feels like it trying to imitate good writing rather than being actually well written. The narrator is brilliant, though

Great narrator, so-so author

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I became lost in another world whilst I was listening to this. I thoroughly enjoyed the landscape of the story with its Rembrandt-esque colours and richly drawn characters. It is dark, but not without humour, and John Telfer's excellent narration does justice to this gripping story. It is slow-paced, leisurely almost, in keeping with the period; you can almost hear the clop of hooves on wet cobblestones. More than a ghost story it is a peek at the lives of those cloistered in a place of learning in the late 18th century, their superstitions, ambitions and machinations. Absorbing.

Atmospheric and fascinating

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What made the experience of listening to The Anatomy of Ghosts the most enjoyable?

Superbly crafted writing with a convincing sense of period. It had none of the careless linguistic anachronisms you get in some historical fiction.

What other book might you compare The Anatomy of Ghosts to, and why?

Great Expectations. As in Dickens' classic, the hero's destiny lies in the hands of two rather enigmatic female characters, while he is surrounded by vividly depicted rogues and eccentrics.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I loved the ending. The spectral presence vanishing in the light of dawn.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Haunted by the future.

Mourning and melancholia

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